Who hasn’t seen Jimmy Stewart in the 1950 movie “Harvey?”

Mary Chase’s hilarious, heartwarming 1944 play about the imaginary giant white rabbit was turned into a hit movie, and word has it that Steven Spielberg has plans to make it into a movie again next year.

Ed Shea’s 2nd Story Theater has taken the play and worked wonders with it. First, he recruited Wayne Kneeland to play the Jimmy Stewart role of Elwood P. Dowd. Kneeland nails the character without copying Stewart, making it his own. He is both naïve and wise and a catalyst for bringing both joy and confusion into the lives of everyone he meets.

Dowd has dropped out of “real life,” befriending his imaginary “Pooka” and introducing him to everyone he meets.

His sister, Veta (Sharon Carpentier) and niece, Myrtle (Erin Olson) are appalled and concerned about Elwood’s behavior, which disturbs their social life and causes much embarrassment.

When Veta decides to have Elwood committed, all hell breaks loose. The doctors declare that Veta is the insane one, as Elwood charms them with his sincere approach to life.

On the surface, “Harvey” is a hilarious play about a quirky man with an imaginary rabbit friend, but director Ed Shea advises the audience to look beyond the humor and discover the profound religious implications. He even encourages the audience to pick up a paper in the lobby, listing a number of quotes from Buddha.

If you can stop laughing, you’ll see the connections between Harvey and some all-knowing, greater power, a Pooka who protects those who believe.

“Harvey” is performed in the round, in an intimate space that brings the audience into the action. The dialogue is fast and furious…and very clever. Elwood sees the good in everything and takes everything that is said at face value, making for some of the best witticism and wit you will ever see on stage.

Who’s crazy? Elwood? His sister? The two psychiatrists who frustratingly try to treat him?

Jay Bragan plays the spastic Dr. Sanderson who has a love/hate relationship with his nurse (Rae Mancini). The two of them are a riot together. Tom O’Donnell plays Dr. Chumley, the head of the asylum who is influenced the most by Dowd. Joan Dillenback plays his wife and Stephen Palmer his lawyer. Vince Petronio shows up in the last scene to disrupt the action and bring the play to its satisfying conclusion.

Whatever overtones you see in the play will add to the enjoyment of one hilarious evening of theatre at 2nd Story. What a wonderful way to wrap up your summer.

“Harvey” continues at 2nd Story Theatre, 28 Market St. in Warren, through Sept. 6. Tickets are only $25. Call 247-4200 to reserve your seats.